Northern Mockingbirds visit
The Northern Mockingbirds seem to be very comfortable around the garden, all year round. A couple of them checked out the garden beds for...
Blooms on the Hummingbird Sage
After heavy rains, the California hummingbird sage Salvia spathacea is producing its first blooms of the year. This plant is native to...
Sparrows foraging in the garden
During a break between light rain showers, a group of sparrows and a California towhee descended on the front yard. I observed the...
Golden Crowned Sparrows in the Mist
Rain and mist creates so much atmosphere. These are silhouettes of golden crowned sparrows perched high up on dried blackberry vines....
Winter Sunset
I love sunsets, but winter sunsets are especially gorgeous. This view is from our front porch looking toward the Marin headlands. There...
Gulf Fritillary enjoying the sun
After a week of misty, rainy weather, we enjoyed a weekend of sunshine. The plants were starting to get soggy, blossoms moldy. We love...
Bewick's wren and a dandelion plant
Every day I am reminded by local wildlife why it's important not to remove every single "weed" from the patio and garden. I took these...
It's the season of sprouting doormats
Our outdoor welcome mats are made of sisal. And in the winter rain all seeds that have blown onto the mats throughout the year germinate....
Lovely rain
Some plants seem transformed by our winter rain. The leaves of this Baja fairy duster Calliandra californica are beaded with raindrops....
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visiting
These days, we just never know who we'll see around the backyard. This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a small olive greenish songbird with a...
